Government will permanently ban the Ghana Cards of any citizens linked to mobile money fraud

The Ghanaian government is preparing to roll out a high-stakes digital crackdown that could effectively exile mobile money fraudsters from the country’s telecommunications and public service ecosystem. Under a rigorous new SIM registration regime, the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations has announced that any Ghana Card found linked to repeated fraudulent activity will be blacklisted.

Speaking at a stakeholder forum in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Minister Samuel Nartey George delivered a blunt ultimatum to those exploiting the mobile money system. He clarified that if a single identity card is used to facilitate multiple fraudulent registrations, the owner will be barred from accessing telecom services nationwide. Because the Ghana Card is now the primary gateway for almost all essential government services, the Minister noted that the social and economic cost of engaging in MoMo crime is about to become “prohibitive.”

A digital red light for stolen devices

The crackdown extends beyond identity cards to the hardware itself. Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), unveiled plans for a Central Equipment Identity Register. This system acts as a national gatekeeper, tagging every mobile device with a color-coded status.

While “green” devices are cleared for use, stolen or illegal handsets will be flagged as “red” and automatically blocked from every network in Ghana. The goal is to strip away the incentive for phone theft entirely, ensuring a stolen device becomes a useless piece of plastic and glass regardless of which SIM card is inserted.

Ending the era of “proxy” registrations

To prevent criminals from using the identities of unsuspecting victims, the government is introducing a “primary number” verification system. Under this rule, any attempt to register a new SIM card using an existing Ghana Card will trigger a one-time password (OTP) sent to the owner’s primary phone number.

Minister George emphasized that this move puts the power and the responsibility directly in the hands of the citizen. He warned the public against registering SIM cards for strangers or acquaintances, noting that once a registration is confirmed via the primary number, the cardholder is legally tied to any activity on that line.

Funding and legal hurdles

Addressing concerns regarding the cost of this massive digital overhaul, the Minister was firm that no taxpayer money would be used to pay technical providers. Instead, the financial burden of biometric verification and system maintenance will be absorbed by mobile network operators. He also dismissed rumors of “backdoor” contracts, challenging critics to produce evidence of any signed agreement before the Public Procurement Authority has concluded its work.

The nationwide exercise is expected to commence later in 2026, pending the completion of a 21-day legal review in Parliament. For those currently without a Ghana Card, the National Identification Authority (NIA) is deploying teams to nearly 300 district offices and rural community centers to ensure that no legitimate citizen is left disconnected when the new laws take effect.